How NXT is handling Tommaso Ciampa’s injury (SPOILERS)

As you’ve probably heard, NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa was forced to undergo neck surgery last week, which took him out of action. While this is a massive blow to the superstar who was on a massive rise, set to headline TakeOver: New York and was apparently called up to the main roster, all of that means NXT was forced to switch up some of its plans.

Thanks to spoilers coming out of last night’s NXT tapings, we now know how the black-and-yellow brand’s dealing with this change, at least in the short term.

OF COURSE, BEYOND THIS POINT LIE SPOILERS FOR FUTURE NXT TV EPISODES:

The NXT tapings started with Triple H saying that while he intended to announce Gargano vs Ciampa for the title at TakeOver: New York (set up by the former turning on the latter in an episode that aired last night), that can’t happen.

Instead, Trips declared a 5-way match to decide who fills Ciampa’s spot in that match with Gargano. The men vying for that spot? Aleister Black, Ricochet, Velveteen Dream, Matt Riddle and Adam Cole (BAYBAY!).

Cole would go onto win the opportunity, after distracting the ref from seeing Dream tap out to Riddle’s Bromission, setting up Adam Cole vs Johnny Gargano, in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match at NXT TakeOver: New York, which feels like an early candidate for Match of the Weekend. Cole actually declared he will win with help from the Undisputed Era, which makes me wonder how Candice will take out Kyle O’Reilly.